News
MCS UK launch Sea-inspired Christmas gifts for coastal lovers
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS), the UK’s leading marine charity has launched a brand new online range of Christmas gifts all with a marine theme.
The charity has partnered with organisations who all have an affinity with the sea and whose products reflect a love of the oceans.
Riz Boardshorts: Get set for the sea with stylish swim shorts made from recycled plastic by Riz. The perfect gift for beach lovers and water sports enthusiasts from www.rizboardshorts.com.
Tide clocks: Brighten up anyone’s home with these wonderful hand-built Tide Clocks by Bramwell Brown. £275 – £360 direct from MCS www.mcsuk.org/shop.
Salt-Water Sandals: Made from hand-stitched leather, Salt-Water Sandals are an excellent gift for beach lovers and they can get wet too! Get a pair at www.salt-watersandals.com.
Beachcomber Jewellery: Inspired by beautiful local beaches, Beachcomber Jewellery is designed and individually handmade from recycled Silver in west Wales. Originally supporting MCS through their ‘Coast’ collection, Beachcomber is now donating 10% across all their ranges www.beachcomberjewellery.co.uk.
From the Notebook: You can raise a glass to MCS this Christmas with the help of Nottingham based beer producers “From the Notebook” who produce beers inspired by British wildlife. MCS benefits from ales in their Seabird Series of beers which are brewed in Northumberland: Arctic Tern (IPA), Kittiwake (Golden Ale), Puffin (Best Bitter) and Eider (Dark Beer). The beers can be bought online individually or gift boxed at hopsinabottle.co.uk.
Shore Project watches: The perfect time piece inspired by the British seaside from Shore Projects. Waterproofed to 100m with vintage styling alongside modern day build quality, so you can swim in the sea and never lose track of time! Shore Projects donate £1 per watch to MCS. The watches can be bought online at www.shoreprojects.com.
Beautiful sea inspired calendars: Keep track of who’s where and when, who needs picking up and who’s coming to stay with this marine themed calendar. The calendar costs just £8.95. Buy online at www.mcsuk.org/shop.
Note cards: Say ‘thank you’, ‘congratulations’ or simply ‘hi’ with these set of 8 blank greetings cards and envelopes featuring four different marine animals. Pack of eight is £5. Buy online at www.mcsuk.org/shop.
MCS clothing range to save our seas: Wrap up warm with a brand new range of marine themed Christmas hoodies and sweatshirts designed especially for MCS by Rapanui. 50% of sales go directly to saving our seas, shores and wildlife. Prices for both hoodies and sweats are £40 and can be bought online at www.mcsuk.org/shop.
Kids t-shirt: Kit out your kids in this lovely marine themed t-shirt from our partners Mantaray at Debenhams. Not only will they look great but MCS will receive 100% of the profits too! www.debenhams.com.
Pin badges – Our sets of marine pin badges are back due to popular demand. And now even more species are available. Buy online at www.mcsuk.org/shop.
Set 1: CLASSIC – Set of 4 (Loggerhead, Orca, Seahorse and Puffin) for £5
Set 2: NEW – Set of 6 (Dolphin, Whale, Seal, Shark, Crab and Starfish) for £8
Set 3: COMBINED – Set of 10 (Loggerhead, Orca, Seahorse, Puffin, Dolphin, Whale, Seal, Shark, Crab and Starfish) for £12
Green People: Want your skin to have a healthy glow this Christmas? Try Green People’s award winning organic Self Tan Lotion to give you a healthy looking tan with no nasty chemicals and no streaks, just natural ingredients and lightly scented with essential oils. www.greenpeople.co.uk/self-tan-lotion-200ml.
Adopt-a-Turtle or Adopt-a-Seahorse: Adopt a turtle or seahorse and receive your very own fluffy turtle hatchling or cute little seahorse, a newsletter full of great stories and fantastic photos. Turtle adopters get exclusive access to our website which includes satellite tracking, UK turtle sighting pages and some turtley amazing activities! Our seahorse adopters will also receive a pin badge and fact sheet full of fascinating facts about this mysterious little animal. Adopt at www.mcsuk.org/support_mcs.
Tableware: Spruce up your home with Richard Bramble’s beautiful Seabird range of ceramic tableware. Starting at £7.95 from www.richardbramble.com.
Lampshade: Supporting MCS with its Fish Deluxe lampshade, the creative force behind Scabetti is the English design duo Dominic and Frances Bromley. www.bromleyandbromley.com
Ohyo: Ohyo bottles are the ideal stocking filler that collapses to fit in a handbag or pocket – great for lunch boxes or when you’re out and about – tested to 10,000 squeezes! www.mcsuk.org/shop
MCS will be launching their Christmas shop on October 9th. To see the full list of gifts available, visit www.mcsuk.org/shop.
Gear News
Introducing the TR-80, IR-50 and CS-30 Regulators from DYNAMICNORD
Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver – with the three new main regulators from DYNAMICNORD, everyone will find their favourite regulator. They all look super stylish.
Excellent performance with the TR-80
Quality and performance are the be-all and end-all for regulators. It is not for nothing that the TR stands for Tec Reg. The innovative design of the TR-80 guarantees absolute reliability – even in ice-cold waters.
Perfect breathing effort at 0.8 J/l / certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / structural design made of solid brass for best cold protection / membrane-compensated design with dry seal of the first stage / reduced exhalation effort thanks to optimized exhalation membrane and bubble deflector / adjustable Venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort / innovative design of the front cover prevents free-flow in strong currents or when diving with scooters / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 LP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Amazing underwater adventures with the IR-50
The IR-50 is the top regulator for advanced and experienced divers. Natural breathing is the essence of this regulator.
Ideal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / compensated membrane / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort/ outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
The Workhorse – our CS-30
For diving centres and diving beginners – the workhorse stands for strong construction, reliability and robustness. Perfect for your training.
Optimal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /recommended for diving in waters above 10 degrees / non-compensated piston / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) / outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 1 HP and 3 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Octopus OP-30
The OP-30 is the ideal addition to all DYNAMICNORD regulators. It is identical in construction to the CS-30.
The TR-80, IR-50, CS-30 (DIN & INT) regulators and the Octopus OP-30 are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers and in the online store.
DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
Marine Life & Conservation
Paul Watson Released as Denmark Blocks Japan’s Extradition Bid
Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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